Strop.



PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

J. L. GOESIR.

STROP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1904.

NO MODEL.

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'neboao llnrrnn STATES Patented September 13, 190.4.

JOHN L. OOESIR, OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI.

STROP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,225, datedSeptember 13, 1904.

Application filed April '7, 1904. Serial No. 202,023. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. Cousin, a citizen of the United States,residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Strops; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use .the same.

My invention relates to improvements in strops for sharpening edgedtools; and it consists in certain novel features of construction,combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

One object of my invention is to provide a folding frame or stretcherfor the strop, by means of which the latter may be quickly and easilystretched to the proper tension when it is desired to use the same andby means of.

which said strop may be released and folded to relieve the fiber of theleather from all strain when the device is not being used.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for readilyattaching, removing, and adjusting the strop upon its frame orstretcher.

Another object of my invention is to provide a strop upon whichtoothed-edge blades, such as hair-clipper blades, may be sharpened, aswell as the ordinary smooth-edge blades of razors, knives, and the like.

Another object of my invention is to improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of devices of this character, and therebyrender them more durable and effective in use and less expensive tomanufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved device, showing the manner in which the toothed blade ofahair-clipper or the like is sharpened. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalview through the device, the strop being in its stretched position, asshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through thedevice in its folded position.

Referring to the drawings by letters and numerals, 1 denotes the stropproper, which is preferably in the form of a strip of leather, and 2denotes a frame upon which said strop is stretched and secured. Saidstretching-frame comprises a straight rectangular strip 3, of wood orany other suitable material, formed at one of its ends with a handletand at its opposite end, upon its upper side, with an enlarged orthickened portion 5. To the inner end of said thickened portion ispivotally secured, preferably by hinges 6, as shown, a stretching blockor member 7, which may be swung over upon said portion 5 or down uponthe remaining portion of the strip or back 3, in which latter positionit is adapted to be locked or socured by suitable fastening means,preferably in the form of hooks 8, pivoted upon each side of the outerend of the stretching-block 7 and engaging studs 9, projecting from thesides or edges of the strip or back 2, as shown in 'Figs. 1 and 3 of thedrawings. Upon the outer or free end of the stretching-block 7 and uponthe outer end of the enlarged portion 5 of the strip or back 2 aretransversely-extending ribs 10, which project a suitable distance abovethe upper face of the said block and strip and are formed with roundededges, as shown. The strop has its ends detachably and adjustablysecured to the said ribs 10 in any suitable manner, but preferably byproviding each of said ribs with a row or series of studs or pins 11,which are adapted to enter one of two or more rows or series ofapertures 12, formed in the ends of the strop. Said pins and aperturesmay be arranged in any desired manner; but they are preferably disposedin rows, as shown. It will be understood that the ends of the strop areattached to the ribs when the stretching block or member 7 is raised orswung up from the strip or back 3 and that when said block is swung downupon the latter and secured by the hooks 8 the strop will be stretchedat any desired tension, which will depend upon the rows or series ofapertures with which the pins are engaged, as will be readilyunderstood. In order to permit notched or toothed edged blades, such asare used in hair-clippers and the like. to be sharpened upon the strop1, the latter is formed with a plurality of parallellongitudinally-disposed slits 13, which divide the strop into a numberof narrow strips or strands 14. These strands may be made of any desiredwidth, according to the size of the teeth of the blade to be sharpened,the teeth a of such a blade A entering between the strands 14, as shownin Fig. 1.

The operation of the device will be readily seen. When the strop is inits stretched position, as shown in Fig. 1, emery dust or any suitablesharpening compound or matter may be placed upon it, and the blade to besharpened is then moved back and forth in the usual manner upon thestrop, or if a toothed blade, such as shown at A in said Fig. 1, is tobe sharpened the teeth of said blade project through the slits 13between the strands 14C, and the blade is moved back and forth, as willbe readily understood. When the device is not being used, the hooks 8are released and the strop and its stretching block or member is foldedto the position shown in Fig. 3, in order to relieve the fiber of theleather from all strain. When in the latter position, the ends of thestrop maybe adjusted upon the ribs 10 to shorten the length of the stropwhenever it is found necessary to do so in order that the strop willhave the desired tension when in its stretched position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection'with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

' Various changes in the form, proportion,

and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Withoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthis invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A strop formed of longitudinally-disposed strands of flexiblematerial,substantially as described.

2. A strop comprising asingle piece of material having a plurality oflongitudinally-disposed slits thereon, at a point between its ends andforming a plurality of longitudinal strands.

3. A sharpening device of the class described comprising a frame andstretching member mounted to swing upon said frame, a strop adjustablyconnected to said frame and said member, means to detachably andadjustably secure the end portions of the strop to the frame end andstretching member.

4. A sharpening device of the class described, comprising a frame andstretching member mounted to swing upon said frame, a strop adjustablyconnected to said frame and said member, and means to detachably andadjustably secure the end portions of the strop to the frame end andstretching member, and means for locking said members to hold the saidstrop in its stretched position.

5. A sharpening device of the type set forth, comprising a frame formedwith a thickened upper and reduced lower part, a stretching memberhingedly connected to said thickened part and overlying said reducedpart, and transversely-extending ribs provided on the ends of said namedparts, a strop secured to said ribs, a hook pivoted in said ribs toengage studs mounted in said reduced portion for locking the said parts,the said stretching member and strop adapted to be foldedback over thesaid thickened part.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. COESIR. Witnesses:

B. W. EAsLnY, HIRAM D. H001).

